Canandaigua North Shore project plan raises questions

Friday

Oct 25, 2013 at 11:56 AMOct 25, 2013 at 11:56 AM

By Scott Pukosspukos@messengerpostmedia.com

CANANDAIGUA — While a preliminary site plan application for the first phase in a $100 million lakefront development was approved Thursday night, City Council voiced concerns about parking, phasing and financing.

Residents, business owners and interested parties will also get a chance to comment on the project during a public hearing before the Nov. 7 City Council meeting.

The plans presented to the city’s Planned Unit Development (PUD) Committee on Oct. 24 included documents on traffic flow, facade and renderings of two structures, including a 140-unit apartment building. These materials are part of phase one, which will start on the west of side of the Lakeshore Drive development. It will focus on the area that includes 25 Booth St., currently a vacant lot, and stretch across 24, 26 and 28 Lakeshore Drive. These spots consist of Scoops Ice Cream, a vacant lot and a parking lot.

Overall, the development is 21 acres and is broken into five phases, which concerns Councilmember Maria Bucci.

“The phasing piece is troublesome to me,” she said. “If the rest of the property doesn’t get developed, we will only see a portion of the vision.”

While a group representing developers Morgan-LeChase — including attorney Jerry Goldman, architect David Hanlon, along with personnel from Stantect Engineering and Passero Associates — said the first phase could stand on its own, Bucci along with other councilmembers, questioned that claim.

“Even if it’s there for five years — as a standalone — you have to be able to attract people to live there and use the space,” Bucci said. “I think we need to make (phase one) as attractive and desirable as possible.”

Other questions were brought up on the initial phase of the North Shore development. Councilmember Jim Terwilliger wondered if there would be sufficient parking in the area, considering the 140 apartments that range from one, two and three bedroom units.

Aside from “building B,” which is the apartment building, the first phase will features a second building that will have a different purpose — one that hasn’t been decided yet. According to Goldman, it could be used as a museum or wellness center.

Phase one also would include the addition of a new road — North Shore Boulevard — and a reconfiguration of Booth Street so that the roads connect. Developers are talking with McDonald’s on this change, since the new roadway would stretch on property owned by the fast food chain.

A building permit for the project cannot be issued until financial responsibility is established by a performance bond or letter of credit, said Leslie Mauro, of Harter Secrest & Emery, in response to concerns from council members. She added that council could bring this up in the final stages of the PUD — when the final site plan is discussed.

During the lakefront development’s previous plan — a 2008 pitch submitted by David Genecco — approval of the final sketch plan was conditional upon submission of a letter of credit or performance bond. Terwilliger said the city would once again like to implement this measure.

Council approved both the application and public hearing date 7-0. Councilmembers David Winter and Cindy Wade were absent.

The plan that was discussed Thursday night can be found at canandaiguanewyork.gov. Public comment — in advance of the hearing — can also be submitted on the city’s website.